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Words/Phrases that should be banned

The use of clichés (unless your character uses them) is considered poor writing. I avoid clichés like the plague (cliché intended). There are many phrases that make me cringe when I hear them; I will share my Top 10:

“That went well.” People say this whenever the opposite is true. I don’t know why this is funny. It’s mean to be sarcasm, but it’s a cliché of sarcasm.

“Bless this mess.” Cleanliness is next to godliness, so I’m not sure how God is supposed to bless a mess. That makes about as much sense as saying a blessing over a McDonald’s “cheeseburger”.

“In harm’s way.” I hear this whenever people talk about the troops. I’m tired of hearing it. “On the battlefield”, to me, sounds better.

When people say “N as in Nancy” (to cite one example). When people feel they must spell out a word because it is easy to confuse a B with a D, they could use a little more imagination. How about “N as in Nightingale”?

“Have a blessed/blest day.” I live in the buckle of the Bible belt, and I’ve heard this many times. I don’t like this saying; “Have a good day” is sufficient.

“I don’t read fiction.” When someone says this, it comes across as snotty. I want to ask, “Do you watch movies based on fiction?” Chances are, they do. I think it’s a little more intellectual to read fiction than it is to watch it where you don’t have to use your imagination to fill in the blanks. Furthermore, it is insulting to say this to someone who writes fiction.

“Step up to the plate.” I hear this on reality cooking shows.

“In English, please.” People often say this when a doctor isn’t speaking to them in layman’s terms. Just ask for the doctor to use simpler language instead. They are speaking English, whether you understand it or not.